Analyst Makes Surprising Statement About Mike McDaniel
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - JANUARY 05: Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins looks on during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on January 05, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

 

A single mistake can decide the outcome of a one-score NFL game. The Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders both had chances to exploit those moments during their Sunday matchup, but Miami came away with the victory.

Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones intercepted Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota on the first play of overtime, giving his team favorable field position. Two plays later, Riley Patterson connected on a 29-yard field goal to secure a 16-13 win for Miami. CBS Sports HQ analyst Pete Prisco offered an interesting perspective on head coach Mike McDaniel following the game.

“You know, what’s amazing? Mike McDaniel might actually be saving his job. There is some talk that they don’t want to fire him, so, it’ll be interesting to see what happens,” Prisco said.

McDaniel entered the Week 11 matchup in Madrid with a 3-7 record and facing mounting pressure regarding his future with the organization. Tensions in the locker room and disciplinary issues within the team have raised questions about his control over the roster.

The overtime victory provided temporary relief, but the path to that result drew criticism. Miami held possession late in the fourth quarter with a chance to take the lead.

Facing fourth down inside Washington territory with less than two minutes remaining, McDaniel chose to go for the touchdown instead of attempting a field goal. The Dolphins needed one yard and handed the ball to rookie Ollie Gordon, but the Commanders stopped the play short of the goal line.

The failed conversion forced Miami into overtime and sparked immediate debate about McDaniel’s decision-making. Settling for three points would have given the Dolphins the lead without risking the turnover on downs. That choice has added to the scrutiny surrounding McDaniel as the team heads into Week 12 still searching for consistency.

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Dan Campbell Announces Permanent Change To Lions’ Play-Calling
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 20: Head coach Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions looks on during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field on October 20, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

 

The Detroit Lions headed to Philadelphia for Sunday Night Football in Week 11 and faced a matchup that could preview a potential postseason meeting. Detroit arrived with momentum following a decisive offensive performance against the Washington Commanders that came under a new play-calling structure.

Head coach Dan Campbell took over those duties in Week 10 after previously delegating them to first-year offensive coordinator John Morton. The change produced immediate results and will remain in place for the remainder of the season. Insider Ari Meirov confirmed the decision through a social media post on Sunday.

“Lions HC Dan Campbell told [Jay Glazer] he is taking over offensive play-calling permanently for the rest of the season,” Meirov posted on X.

Campbell made the transition following Detroit’s loss to Minnesota in Week 9. The Lions responded by defeating the Washington Commanders 44-22 while accumulating 546 total yards of offense.

Detroit averaged 8.0 yards per play in that contest, reinforcing their standing among the league’s most productive units. Morton had faced scrutiny throughout the season after replacing Ben Johnson, who left to become head coach of the Chicago Bears.

While Morton oversaw several effective performances, he struggled to create consistent opportunities across the offense. The Week 9 defeat to Minnesota ultimately prompted Campbell to reclaim play-calling responsibilities.

Morton’s tenure in Detroit appears headed toward a quick conclusion. His next opportunity remains uncertain, though the situation will likely develop over the coming weeks.

The disconnect between Morton and Campbell became increasingly apparent as the season progressed. Their philosophies on offensive execution and situational play-calling did not align, creating challenges in maximizing Detroit’s talent. Campbell’s decision to reassert control suggests that the organization views this change as necessary to sustain its championship aspirations through the second half of the season.

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J.J. Watt Raves About Bucs WR
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 01: Former Houston Texans player J.J. Watt looks on prior to a game between the Houston Texans and the Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Houston, Texas.
(Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images)

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has established himself as a productive contributor through his first NFL season. He has accumulated 45 receptions for 717 yards while averaging 15.9 yards per catch and scoring six touchdowns.

His most recent outing against the Buffalo Bills resulted in five catches for 40 yards in a 32-44 defeat. Despite the quieter performance in that contest, Egbuka remains on pace to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards for the season. Former NFL defensive end J.J. Watt recently offered high praise for the rookie during an appearance on CBS’s NFL Today.

“Egbuka is incredible. I mean, having a conversation with him and sitting down and hearing everybody talk about him, and then being able to have the conversations, he is gonna be a superstar in this league,” Watt said.

Watt entered his first extended conversation with Egbuka after hearing consistent feedback from multiple sources within the Tampa Bay organization. The general manager, head coach, and quarterback each emphasized the same point before discussing his talent.

They highlighted Egbuka’s character and maturity as defining traits that set the foundation for everything else. Once Watt sat down with the rookie, he found those assessments accurate.

Egbuka carried himself with a presence and composure that exceeded what most first-year players demonstrate at this stage. His production has forced opposing defenses to allocate additional resources toward limiting his impact.

That attention has opened opportunities elsewhere in Tampa Bay’s passing attack by creating more favorable matchups and spacing. Sustaining this level of output will require navigating defensive adjustments and managing the physical demands of a complete NFL season.

Target distribution could shift with veteran players returning to full health, and opponents will prioritize containing his explosive plays. Still, Egbuka’s trajectory suggests he will reach the 1,000-yard threshold while establishing himself among the league’s most impressive rookie receivers.

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Michael Penix Jr. Suffers Injury On Sunday
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 13: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons warms up prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

 

The Atlanta Falcons sit at 3-6 heading into the final stretch of the 2025 season with little margin for error remaining. Their playoff hopes took another hit during Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers when quarterback Michael Penix Jr. left the game with an injury. The incident occurred on a third-down play late in the contest, forcing the Falcons to turn to backup Kirk Cousins to protect their lead.

“QB Michael Penix Jr. has a knee injury and is questionable to return,” Tori McElhaney shared on X.

Cousins came in and kept the offense steady, but things swung late when Tetairoa McMillan scored and Bryce Young followed with a successful two-point try, giving Carolina a 27-24 lead. Cousins didn’t fold, though. He put together a clutch drive that evened the score at 27-27 and pushed the game into overtime.

For Falcons fans, the biggest sigh of relief came from reports that Michael Penix Jr. walked out of the medical tent on his own, hinting the injury might not be as serious as it first looked. The Falcons will monitor his status throughout the week as they prepare to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 12.

Penix delivered one of his best performances this season before exiting the game. He guided Atlanta to 21 first-half points and helped build a 21-10 halftime advantage. The offense slowed considerably after the break as Carolina gradually closed the gap.

Special teams turnovers and inconsistent execution allowed the Panthers to stay within striking distance throughout the second half. The injury occurred when an unblocked defender reached Penix on a blitz.

His removal from the game appeared precautionary, given the circumstances and Atlanta’s lead at the time. Cousins now has another opportunity to demonstrate his readiness for a potential starting role in 2026 if Penix remains sidelined moving forward.

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Bobby Wagner Made NFL History On Sunday
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 31: A detailed view of a Washington Commanders helmet prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers at FedExField on December 31, 2023 in Landover, Maryland.
(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

 

The Washington Commanders dropped a close 16-13 decision to the Miami Dolphins in their Week 11 matchup at Santiago BernabĆ©u Stadium in Madrid. Washington’s defense has struggled throughout the season, allowing 28 points per game entering the contest.

Those issues surfaced again despite a strong effort that kept the game competitive until the final moments. Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner continued his consistent production in his 10th season. The veteran delivered another solid performance and reached a historic milestone despite the defeat.

“With that tackle, Bobby Wagner joined London Fletcher as the only two players in NFL history with 100 or more tackles in 14 consecutive seasons,” Nicki Jhabvala posted on X.

Washington held Miami to just six points in the first half, both coming from field goals. Wagner recorded three solo tackles during the opening two quarters as the teams entered halftime tied at six.

The score remained deadlocked at 13-13 through regulation before a Miami field goal decided the outcome. Wagner added one solo tackle and four assisted tackles in the second half.

He entered the game with 99 total tackles on the season and surpassed the 100-tackle mark with his performance in Madrid. The achievement extended a streak that now matches the record previously held by Fletcher alone.

Fletcher accumulated his 14 consecutive seasons from 2000 to 2013, with seven of those years coming in a Washington uniform. Wagner’s streak dates back to his rookie season in Seattle and spans 11 years with the Seattle Seahawks, one with the Los Angeles Rams, and now two with the Commanders.

At 35 years old, Wagner continues producing at a high level. He entered the Miami game with two sacks, six stuffs, one interception, and one pass breakup already recorded this season. His impact in Washington has been significant despite joining the organization just two years ago.

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Analyst Reveals Worrisome Stat About Edgerrin Cooper
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 07: Edgerrin Cooper #56 of the Green Bay Packers reacts during the fourth quarter of a game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field on September 07, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

 

The public opinion of the Green Bay Packers‘ defense has been a whirlwind through the first 11 weeks of the season. After being a primary catalyst in handing the Detroit Lions a loss in Week 1, it felt like this unit could stand up to any team and take them down.

That hasn’t necessarily been the case over the past several weeks. They’ve lost to the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Philadelphia Eagles thus far, and while they beat the New York Giants this week, the defense wasn’t as dominant as one might have hoped.

Micah Parsons can only do so much, as he’s just one player, and the rest of this team needs to start stepping up. Analyst Jacob Morley showcased this on X, particularly calling out Edgerrin Cooper for not pulling his weight in certain areas.

“Edgerrin Cooper is 2nd in the NFL in missed tackles,” Morley said.

For whatever reason, the Packers have historically struggled with missing tackles, especially in recent seasons. Cooper is supposed to be one of their best defenders, but for some reason, he can’t find a way to bring down his guy when the team needs him most.

Matt LaFleur would like to see this area get better for the Packers as a whole, and for a player like Cooper, this is a must moving forward. If not, the Packers could lose more games to inferior opponents and get blown out by top-tier opponents.

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Stat Shows How Clutch Jordan Love Has Been This Season
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 02: Jordan Love #10 of the Green Bay Packers warms up prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers in the game at Lambeau Field on November 02, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

 

After an interesting Week 11 in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers find themselves in second place in the NFC North with a 6-3-1 record. They, surprisingly, trail the Chicago Bears for the top spot in the division, who are playing much better than anyone could have expected coming into the year.

The Packers’ Week 11 win over the New York Giants didn’t necessarily happen in the way they hoped heading into the season, but it’s a win nonetheless. Jordan Love‘s heroics saved them in the end, something that is becoming more and more common. Analyst Zach Kruse noted on X that Love has led the team to four comebacks in the fourth quarter this season, which is two times more than he did in 2023 and 2024.

Kruse mentioned that Love’s stats would have looked even better without the blocked field goal in the Cleveland Browns game, and he also led a game-leading drive against the Carolina Panthers. Unfortunately, the Panthers came away from that game with a win, so Love didn’t get credit for his great performance.

Packers fans have to be excited about what they’re seeing out of Love thus far, and many outside sources have even indicated that he’s an MVP candidate. While this is great news for the future of the position, the other units on the team need to keep stepping up and put him in a position to succeed. If this supposedly great defense can’t stop their opponents, it puts Love in a tough spot, needing to look like a hero almost every week.

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Christian Watson Gets Honest About Game-Winning Touchdown
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 11: Christian Watson #9 of the Green Bay Packers looks on prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at Lambeau Field on September 11, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

 

The Week 11 battle between the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants was an emotional experience for Packers fans. They did come away from the game with a win, but how they won was the interesting part.

For most of the game, the Packers heavily relied on their rushing game, which was mostly effective, even when Josh Jacobs went down with an injury. The passing attack, however, was anemic for the most part, as nobody was able to consistently hold onto the ball besides Christian Watson, who talked about his game-winning touchdown in a press conference shared via Ryan Wood on X.

“Honestly, it was a play that we probably called like four times that game just to get the right look for it. We weren’t getting man [coverage] on in the whole game. Jordan just gave me a chance,” Watson said.

As Watson mentioned, he and Jordan Love were trying to connect on this play numerous times leading up to this moment, but they ultimately made it happen when the Packers needed it most. This was Watson’s second touchdown catch of the day, a clutch moment for this Packers offense.

This team has looked like a Super Bowl contender at times, and at others, they’ve looked like a fringe playoff team. It’s hard to see them as anything besides the latter after this performance, but it is encouraging to see Watson step up in a big spot.

With Tucker Kraft out, the Packers need someone to become their alpha pass-catcher. Watson has never assumed that role to this point, mainly due to his injuries, but if Sunday’s performance is indicative of the future, he could be Love’s No. 1 target moving forward.

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Rex Ryan Reveals Potential Reason Brian Daboll Got Fired
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Brian Daboll of the New York Giants looks on during the fourth quarter of a game against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Landover, Maryland.
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

 

The New York Giants have a very talented rookie quarterback. And while he can certainly pick up yards with his legs, that doesn’t mean that’s what he’s supposed to do.

That’s why Brian Daboll may have lost his job. At least, according to Rex Ryan.

Talking on ESPN, the former head coach called out his colleague for calling so many designed runs for Jaxson Dart. He believes that was the straw that broke the camel’s back and ultimately led to his firing:

“All of us are watching it, and that might’ve got Brian Daboll fired right there. That has nothing to do with the quarterback learning how to protect himself. Designed runs, you’re telling him to be a running back. That’s different than a quarterback scrambling, leaving the pocket, and learning how to protect themselves. When you run a designed run, you expect him to run the ball like a running back,” Ryan said.

Truth be told, it’s hard to disagree with that statement. At the end of the day, Dart is a quarterback first and foremost, and as such, he’s the most valuable piece of the organization.

Dart has shown glimpses of strong play as both a passer and a runner. He should continue to be a factor with his legs, and that should only make life more difficult for defenses. Nevertheless, there’s a difference between scrambling and calling a designed run, and he’s taken way too many hits already.

The Giants may not have been entirely done with Daboll because of the losing. But when the losses also come with an injured quarterback, things are different.

They need to think about the big picture and the long term. He’s just getting started, and there’s just no way to justify why he would have to endure that much of a beating. He has to do better, but it will start with the guys calling the plays.

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Bengals Defense Setting Unwanted Record In Super Bowl Era
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 07: The Cincinnati Bengals players celebrate after a interception during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns during the game at Huntington Bank Field on September 07, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio.
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

 

For the second time in as many seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals‘ defense has been a talking point for all the wrong reasons. Zac Taylor’s team can’t seem to get a stop, and that has come back to haunt them again this season.

In fact, the Bengals’ defensive struggles are unprecedented. As pointed out by NFL on CBS on X, they currently have the absolute worst defense in the Super Bowl era, giving up a whopping 33.3 points per game.

The Bengals parted ways with former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo at the end of last season. And while the numbers certainly justified that, he’s a well-known and respected defensive figure in the league, and he clearly wasn’t the problem.

This team has invested plenty of draft capital into fixing the defense, but to no avail. They’ve spent most of the money on the other side of the field, and it shows.

Even with Joe Flacco taking the reins of the offense for the injured Joe Burrow, the Bengals’ offense has been able to put up big numbers. The only problem is that they can’t get the opposing offense off the field.

This team has dropped consecutive games in the last drive of the game, and it feels like no lead is safe, regardless of how many points they score. Now, with Joe Burrow aiming for a return in a couple of weeks, they will have to find a way to win at least one game to keep their playoff hopes alive for when their star returns.

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